There are many reasons for this including a greater choice of titles. There are many more slot machines available than any other casino game, while the fast nature of these titles also attracts additional players.
This is the most popular part of those casinos, but operators know that they cannot afford to be complacent. They must look at ways in which to grow their slots platform and keep customers engaged.
Expanding Themes
The greater range of slots helps to attract players, and it’s an area that keeps building. New titles are developed by game producers regularly, and casinos update their schedule of slots accordingly. If you are a customer of a casino and you subscribe to updates, it’s likely that you will be informed of additional slots on a consistent basis.
This is an obvious way in which slot games grow. Online casinos have a demand for new titles, and there are many developers in the industry waiting to meet those needs. More games equate to greater choice, and this means that players will return to check out the new titles.
Those slots also look to involve different themes. There are games with cartoon characters, fantasy elements, Wild West and more. Slots that attach to film and TV franchises are especially popular, and the developers will regularly seek out new licenses to partner with these releases.
Game Innovation
Traditional slot games require players to match symbols along a payline. You could, for example, line up five lemon images in a row to land a cash prize. That basic element of gameplay remains in most slots, but developers like to innovate to keep things fresh and help slots grow.
A recent new development goes by the trademarked name Megaways. Instead of having a traditional reel grid, this changes at random at the end of each spin. The result is more ways to win, which gives us the Megaways term.
Other slots are taking inspiration from the new wave of arcade games. Rather than have the symbols line up, these slots employ a method known as Clusterpays. If five or more symbols are touching each other in a cluster, the game pays out.
Little innovations such as these help to keep the slots industry fresh, but each developer continues to look for bigger adaptations of our favourite games.
Keeping it Live
After digital operators first came online, the biggest development has seen the introduction of live casino rooms. Games such as roulette, poker and blackjack can all be played via live dealers in real time.
It’s the most popular area of an online casino for many players, but the absence of slot games is an issue. That situation is starting to change, and the first wave of live slot games are making their mark.
To keep things familiar, some developers have been using versions of established slots and keeping gameplay similar. The regular symbols are in place and the same bonus rounds apply, but the difference is that a live operator spins the reels.
Games developers will have to implement new features to live slots. Players will therefore stake on certain symbols and potential bonus rounds before the reels are spun. Live slots are in their infancy, but this is an area of slot play that will build significantly in the coming months.
Implementing Strategy
All casino games have a strong element of chance, but some also require the player to use strategy. Roulette and blackjack are good examples of how a planned approach can help you compete.
In slots, the strategy factor has been lacking until now. Games are run by Random Number Generators to produce fair results based on chance.
That could be set to change, as developers are already talking about using strategy in new titles. Instead of simply hitting the “spin” button, players would have more control over gameplay, and a clever strategy could lead to more wins.
By doing this, slot developers could attract generations of video gamers. We’re already seeing some classic gaming titles replicated at the slots, and putting players in control by combining two styles of gameplay, would be a wise approach.
The popularity of slots is never likely to diminish, but casinos know that they cannot afford to stand still. There is so much competition in the industry, and if a slot platform becomes stale and boring, players will look elsewhere.
Slots are established, but they simply have to grow, and these new innovations and developments of existing ideas will keep them fresh and at the forefront of the casino industry. It’s an exciting time, and it will be fascinating to see these ideas come to fruition.